The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-07-16

apples for the table with knife, however, defraud
themselves. Tearing the pine into shreds with a
fork, and sprinkling the shredded fruit with pow
dered sugar some time before eating is the only
way to enjoy pineapple in its perfection"
To Cause Seep.-Plunge the hands, and espe-
cially the wrists in very hot water, and hold them
there until you can bear no more. Then you will
probably sleep well and rise refreshed.
To Remoue Grease Spots.--What will remove
grease spots from clothing in the best manner, is
q frequent inquiry. There is probably nothing
better than equal parts of strong ammonia water
ether, and alcohol Pass piece of blotting paper
under the grease spot, moisten sponge first with
water to render it greedy" then with the mix
ture, and rub with it the spot. In a moment it is
dissolved, saponifed, and absorbed by the sponge
and blotter.
To Drive Aoay Red Ants-It is said that those
annoying summer pests to housekeepers, red ants,
may be banished from pantries and cupboards by
strewing the shelves with Cloves either ground or
unground. The latter is preferable, it is not
likely to get with food placed upon the shelves.
The cloves should be renewed occasionally, as
they lose their strength.
Rats and Copperas.-A writer in the Scientific
American says he cleared his premises of the de-
testable rats by making whitewash yellow with
copperas. In every crevice in which rat may go
he put the crystals of the copperas and scattered
it in the corners of the floor. The result was the
complete disappearance Of rats and mice. Since
that time not rat or mouse has been seen near
his house. Every spring the cellar is coated with
yellow wash, as purifier, and as q rat extermna-
tor and no dysentery or typhoid fever attacks the
family.
Important to Farmers.-Every summer after the
sc k1nh o,I boo, G-ao
the origin of which being unknown, is ascribed to
incendiarism, though doubtless if the real cause
could be ascertained it would be found that they
were the result of spor5 aneous combustion-owing
to hay or other clops while in process of fer
mentation evolving heat sufficient to produce fire.
If farmers wish to prevent their hay stacks or
barns from firing, they need only scatter o few
handfuls of common salt between the layers. The
theory is that the SALT by absorbing the humidity
Of the hay not only prevents its fermentation, and
consequently heating but it also adds salty taste
to this forage which all cattle like and BESIDES it
stimulates the appetite and assists their digestion,
and SO preserves them from many diseases.
Keeping the Hands Soft.-"A little ammonia or
borax in the water you wash your hands with, "
says an exchange, "and that water just lukewarm,
will keep the skin clean and soft. little oatmeal
mixed with the water will whiten the hands.
Many people use glycerine on their hands when
they go to bed, wearing gloves to Keep the bedding
clean; but glycerine makes some skins harsh and
red. These people should rub their hands with
dry oatmeal and wear gloves in bed. The best
preparation for the hands at night is white of egg
with q grain of alum dissolved in it. Roman
toilet paste is merely white of egg, barley flour
and honey. They say it was used by the Romans
in olden time. Anyway, it is a frst-rate thing,
but it is mean, sticky stuff to use and does not do
the work any better than oatmeal. The toughest
and hardest hands can be made soft and white in
months time By doctoring them little at bed
time; all the tools you need are q nail-brush, a
bottle of ammonia, box of powdered borax, and
little fine white sand to rub the stains off, or a
cut of lemon, which will do even better, for the
acid Of the lemon will clean anything. Manicures
use acids in the shops, but the lemon is quite as
good and isn't poisonous, while the acids are"
When to CultiUate.-Blackberry vines should
be well cultivated after the fruit has been picked
The old canes should not be cut out until late in
the fall, but the new canes, which are to produce
next years crops, will be greatly benefited by
cultivation.